Bowfin in New York
Where bowfin swim in New York, and what to keep.
- n/alimit
- 13 lb 8 ozrecord
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not a New York water: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
What New York anglers should know about bowfin
bowfin belongs to the freshwater group in New York, and the 2026 tables carry it in no table of its own.
The 2021 catch of 13 lb 8 oz on Yanty Creek remains the state best.
DEC’s beginner guide gives the usual size as 18-24 in./ grow to 34 in. Bowfin can live in waters with low oxygen levels and can even gulp air at the surface.
Size note and fact from the DEC I FISH NY beginner guide (I FISH NY Beginners' Guide to Freshwater Fishing, Chapter 1 Fishes of New York (DEC, 2016)).
The bowfin mark New York anglers chase
| Entry | Weight | Angler | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowfin | 13 lb 8 oz | Chase Soptelean | Yanty Creek | Monroe | June 13, 2021 |
DEC state record fish table, DEC Current NY State Record Fish table, as of December 10, 2025; retrieved October 24, 2026.
Neighbors of bowfin among New York species
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Rock Bassfreshwater
- White Bassfreshwater
- Walleyefreshwater
- Saugerfreshwater
- Northern Pikefreshwater
- Chain Pickerelfreshwater
- Muskellungefreshwater
- Tiger Muskellungefreshwater
- Yellow Perchfreshwater
- Black Crappiefreshwater
Pictures of fishing water around Bowfin
Photo: Gogerr, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Karl Thomas Moore, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ), CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0
Catching Bowfin in the Empire State: answers
What is the New York bag limit on bowfin?
DEC prints no limit row for it.
Where was the record bowfin caught in New York?
13 lb 8 oz from Yanty Creek, caught by Chase Soptelean (June 13, 2021).
What New York water is a good bet for bowfin?
No water page names it.
Where are bowfin stocked in New York?
Not on the DEC stocking lists for 2023 to 2026.
What kind of fish is bowfin for DEC?
Freshwater on the DEC list.
When is bowfin season open in New York?
It is open whenever the water is.
Do I need a license to fish for bowfin?
Anglers 16 and older need a DEC freshwater fishing license: $25.00 a year for residents, $50.00 for nonresidents, $5.00 for residents 70 and older, with 1-day and 7-day options.
How current are the bowfin rules here?
From the 2026 DEC regulation pages and the state record table, read October 24, 2026 and checked again October 25, 2026.
Find bowfin near you
Every listed lake and stream has its own page here.